StudioWork is a series of intensive and immersive classes and workshops designed for serious practicing artists seeking to balance technical skill-building with intuitive painting practices to develop their unique creative voice.

Rather than adhering to a single methodology or atelier process, StudioWork strikes a thoughtful balance—providing structure without rigidity. The teaching philosophy that consistent, cumulative practice fosters authentic and informed self-expresion. emphasizes the development of strong foundational skills in drawing and painting while nurturing the individuality of each student.

When artists strengthen their foundational skills, they unlock the freedom to create anything they imagine. Doing so within a supportive studio environment, alongside peers who share the same passion, enhances both the creative process and mindset.

At its core, all StudioWork programming is dedicated to achieving a balance between technical mastery and the ongoing effort required to sustain a meaningful, creative practice.

Half Session: January 14 - February 18, 2025
Half Session: February 25 - April 6 (No class 3/4/25)
Tuesdays 9-12 at Adriano Farinella Studio, Easton Pa

Half Session (6 weeks) : $450
Full Session (12 weeks) : $900
Some painting experience is recommended (beginner classes coming soon)
*Class size is limited to 8 in this session.

This is an open-studio painting class meaning students receive individualized guidance on their chosen specific projects while in a group studio environment.

Open-Studio classes are the in-person extension of the online StudioWork Mentorship Series. Both are designed to meet students where they are in their practice and address any technical questions with skill-building exercises, painting demos, and practical guidance while also becoming aware of any creative mindset challenges that might be holding up progress or limiting growth.

Before the first class, we’ll meet in person, on zoom, or by email to discuss your goals and set an individualized plan for your studio time. We’ll make a workflow, gather and review resources like photos to paint from if needed, and discuss how best to use the studio time to accomplish your short term technical goals as well as goals for the end of the 8 week session. Each student receives a StudioWork Journal with some writing prompts to help keep your mindset clear and your goals and accomplishments in check. Plus an assignment to write a brief statement about the work you’ll be making in class. (I’ll have lots of guidance for you on this so don’t worry if you’ve never done it before).

Students will finish the eight week class having definitively accomplished a project and written a brief artist statement about the work and process. We’ll present both in a final group critique on the last day of class. All of that while having the added benefit of building the kind of camaraderie, accountability, and support unique to a working studio environment.

All subject matter is welcome. There are no limits on subject or medium. All that is required is a plan of goals to address and accomplish by the end of 8 weeks. Past student projects include figure or portrait from photo, landscape or still life from photo, abstract, old master copies, planning and building a body of work, etc.

NEW OFFERING!

Open Studio / Figure Drawing Weekly Workshop

January 16 - February 20, 2025
THURSDAYS / 6 - 9 pm / $450

This 6 week class is for designed to teach beginner and intermediate level students to draw the figure from direct observation. We will learn how to build a figure drawing from a straight-line block-in to a clean line drawing and finish with a fully rendered figure drawing.

We will cover gesture drawing, comparitive measurements, value, and more.

Students will draw from both male and female nude models.

SUPPLIES:

• Graphite pencils -Any set will be fine but I recommend getting extra HB’s because we use those the most. Be sure to have 2B, B, HB, H, 2H as well.

• Compressed charcoal and vine charcoal

• Strathmore 400 Medium Drawing Paper 18 x 24

• Newsprint pad 18 × 24 (for gesture drawing)

• Kneaded eraser, white eraser, drafting eraser

• Pencil sharpener or lead pointer

A 6 week in-person SCLA program featuring all the theory and practice from the online class plus live demos and deep dives into the fundamentals of landscape painting. The 3-hour weekly class format will give students time and space to explore the fundamentals of value, composition, working with a limited palette, and the sketching mindset; then translate all of that working knowledge into creating a studio painting during the second half of the course. All skill levels are welcome and great for beginners.

For a comprehensive look at the SCLA course please check out SCLA EASTON & SCLA ONLINE. There are sample videos, demos, and a materials list on both pages.

This workshop isn’t a step by step on how to paint clouds from photos, although I explain and demonstrate exactly what steps I use and map out a comprehensive workflow for students to follow. So, yes, we paint landscapes with an emphasis on clouds and sky but…This program was designed to serve the bigger issue of developing a consistent creative practice and getting the absolute most out the time spent in the studio. It’s about creating a practice and then practicing practice which ultimately leads to skill building, proficiency, a catalog of sketches to pull from when making studio paintings, and most importantly, a relationship with your creative practice that allows for more growth and expansion beyond the subject matter.

So clouds and sky and land and air are the vehicle we use to get to creative proficiency, or at the very minimum, to get us to a place where we are more comfortable and confident during the search for our singular creative voice.